Frail Acceptance

Chapter 7

Noah's POV

Today's Wednesday, and I did not attend school because the stone on the ring that Aunt Katty had given me broke yesterday. I asked her what the problem was, and she told me she would find out and get me a new ring.

Well, it was all good since I didn't want to be around people anyway. Also, she told me it would take at least 4 days to make a new one, so it's all going great for me. For once, after so long, I am at peace.

It was nighttime now, and I was wondering why Li hadn't come back home, so I decided to call him.

"Hello," Li answered, but he sounded out of breath.

"Li, are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah, Noh," he cleared his throat and continued, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I guess I won't be coming home tonight."

"Oo—kaay," I replied, not sure why he would leave me alone and not come back home, but I guess he has a valid reason.

"I'm really sorry, Noah. I'll explain everything once I come home tomorrow." He said.

"Alright, take care then. Good night." I replied back.

"Yeah. Good night." He said that and cut the call.

Well, he must be busy, I guess. I knew he had a girlfriend earlier this year, so I guess before he finds his mate, he's having the time of his life.

After the call, I got ready for bed and slept, as I was tired of organizing my room the whole day.

The next morning, I woke up, finished all my morning routine, and headed down to make breakfast. As I knew, Li would be coming home soon, and he needed to go to school soon after.

As I was done making sandwiches and chocolate shakes, Li came home.

"Hi, good morning." He wished me in a very happy tone.

"Well, good morning," I replied.

"I'll get ready real fast and be down. I'm starving, and I also need to tell you something important before leaving." He said that and rushed upstairs.

After exactly 10 minutes, Li came down running and settled at the dining table on the chair facing me.

I observed his neck having some hickeys, and because he was wearing a t-shirt, they were very visible, and I did not like the fact that he was going to school like this.

"Li, I guess you should at least hide those hickeys. It's very bad if you go like this. You are about to find your mate after 2 days, and imagine how bad they would feel if they saw this today. I am really disappointed in you." I said.

"Woah, hold on. First things first, my mate won't feel bad about these hickeys, and secondly, you're the one I am disappointed in. How could you tell people in school that we're mates? What if my actual mate heard this and rejected me on my birthday?" He said, and I felt the pang of guilt and sadness directly in my heart.

What if that really did happen? I-I would again become a burden to them, and Li would lose the love of his life and maybe go feral or die, and I would just be here like the parasite I am, and I know no one would even blame me.

I guess I shouldn't have met Ethan that day after all.

"Hey, hey, it's alright. Wow, your pheromones express your emotions much better than you. And now that you're not masking it like you always do, I know you're thinking of some nonsense, aren't you?" Li said, and held my hand on the table.

"Okay, listen to me; my mate is not going to reject me, as I met her yesterday. And don't worry, she knows you're my little brother." Li said

"Really? You met your mate?" I chirped as I was really happy for my brother.